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Towns, Villages, Beaches & Country Walks

West Dorset

The glorious sweep of the West Dorset Coastline also known as the Jurassic Coast provides a perfect setting for every kind of seaside adventure, with paddling or plunging into the sea, fishing trips, sailing regattas, or simply relaxing on the beach. The dramatic heritage coastline also offers spectacular views, with many walks and trails to follow, you’re sure to find a perfect spot to unwind. West Dorset is the home too many small towns and villages with bustling shopping areas, local markets and historical monuments, there truly is something for everyone.

Hardy Country

Thomas Hardy was born in 1840 at Higher Bockhampton near Dorchester. During his lifetime he wrote almost a thousand published poems and fourteen published novels including ‘Far From the Madding Crowd’ and ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’. He died in Dorchester in 1928 and his heart was buried in his home parish churchyard at Stinsford, Dorset. Much of Thomas Hardy’s work is set in an area he called ‘South Wessex’ and has been closely identified with the county of Dorset. If you have been inspired by the work of Thomas Hardy then it is most likely that you have been inquisitively drawn, to seek and experience the locations described in his novels and poems.

TV Programmes

Dorset has become a familiar sight on television and in the cinema, its startling beauty providing the perfect location to film. ‘Broadchurch’ a new series starring David Tennant on ITV has been filmed in our surrounding areas and our very own Larkfield Holiday Park was shown on the programme ‘A place by the sea’ and other famous programmes filmed in the area have been the ‘River Cottage’ inspired by the chef Hugh Fearnly-Whittingstall, ‘Harbour Lights’ starring Nick Berry, ‘The History of Tom Jones: A Foundling’ and the classic children’s tale ‘Gulliver’s Travels (1995). Dorset has also been the backdrop to many other major films like ‘Emma’ (1996) ‘Elizabeth’ (1999) ‘Restoration’ (1995), ‘Sleuth’ (1972) ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’ (1981) and ‘The Browning Version’ (1994) all starring some of the world’s most famous actors, including Meryl Streep, Gywneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor, Robert Downey Jr, Hugh Grant, Sam Neill, Alan Rickman and Toni Collette.

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